The College of Family and Consumer Sciences celebrated its first 100 years of offering programming at the University of Georgia at its FACS 100 Gala: A Centennial Celebration Feb. 24 at The Classic Center.
The college can trace its origins to February 1918, when a Bachelor of Science degree was offered in the division of home economics within the UGA College of Agriculture, opening the door wider for women at the university.
More than 500 people attended the event, where the college recognized its Centennial Honorees and members of the Honor Hall of Recognition.
Centennial Honorees were chosen by a nomination process that began in 2017. These individuals embody conviction and commitment to the ideals of the college and through vision and hard work have been instrumental in advancing the college’s ability to serve students through its mission at UGA.
The Honor Hall of Recognition, established in 1980, is the highest honor awarded by the college and is designed to give appropriate recognition to those who have made highly significant achievements in the fields of family and consumer sciences, who have impeccable character and commitment, and who have provided outstanding leadership.
All honorees were presented with a centennial medallion at the gala and are recognized on the college’s centennial website at http://www.fcs.uga.edu/centennial.
“The University of Georgia is proud of your accomplishments, and we are grateful for your contributions to making the world a better place,” UGA President Jere W. Morehead told the attendees. “The future is very bright for the college and for our university. I look forward to everything that we will accomplish together in the next 100 years.”
The father-daughter team of Neal and Skye Estroff, both FACS alumni, served as emcees for the event.
The gala also marked the unveiling of a special centennial video that included an opening scene from the former home of the college’s first dean, Mary Creswell, the first woman to receive an undergraduate degree from UGA in 1919.
FACS Dean Linda Fox also announced the college’s establishment of the FACS Centennial Endowment for Student Success, a fund that will provide support for activities such as student leadership, travel, professional development, experiential learning and other activities that support and enhance the learning experience.
Centennial honoree Tammy Gilland closed the event with a challenge to attendees to continue the college’s momentum into its next centennial.
“Our college’s next 100 years are our responsibility,” she said. “It’s our time to be brave and persevere. Let’s leave here proud of our past, inspired about our future and committed to being involved in helping future generations learn, grow and contribute.”
